Phil Davies

United Kingdom

Freelance Travel Journalist at Freelance

Reporter at Travel Weekly (UK)

Award-winning travel/cruise industry journalist, editor & media trainer. Working for Travel Weekly among others.

Articles

Travel spend growth hits three-month high in April

3 days ago | travelweekly.co.uk | Phil Davies

Travel agents continued to see strong growth in spending by people last month, new data shows. The 7% year-on-year rise in April was on par with the previous month and came as transactions rose by 15.3%, according to consumer card spending statistics released by Barclays. Transaction growth was up on the 13.1% level reported for March.
Second person arrested following death on MSC Virtuosa

4 days ago | travelweekly.co.uk | Phil Davies

A second person has been arrested in connection with the death of a 60-year-old man on board MSC Virtuosa. James Messham, from Shoreham, West Sussex, died following an “altercation” on the ship as it was in UK waters on May 3 during a short cruise to Belgium. A 57-year-old man from Exeter, Devon, was arrested on suspicion of murder and was released pending further inquiries by Hampshire Constabulary. The force has now confirmed that a second man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Newmarket confirms 10-fold rise in agent fams this year

4 days ago | travelweekly.co.uk | Phil Davies

Newmarket Holidays has confirmed plans to support more agent trips than ever before this year. The schedule is the operator’s biggest fam trip programme and provides a ten-fold increase in opportunities for agents compared to 2024. The escorted tours specialist revealed details of two agent tours to South Africa and one to south India later this year, in addition to three tours that have already run to the US, India and Alaska.
US pledges to replace ‘antiquated’ air traffic control system

1 week ago | travelweekly.co.uk | Phil Davies

US aviation leaders have welcomed plans to upgrade the country’s “antiquated” air traffic control system. US Department of Transportation secretary Sean Duffy unveiled an ambitious plan to build a new, state-of-the-art ATC system. The plan includes a technology overhaul that will bring “desperately needed” upgrades to the crucial systems that support almost three million air passengers a day, according to the US Travel Association.
Scenic releases luxury yacht sailings until March 2028

1 week ago | travelweekly.co.uk | Phil Davies

A range of new itineraries including Arctic sailings have been introduced by Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours in a 2027-28 worldwide programme. Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II will cover more than 500 ports across 63 countries in the period up until March 2028. • New North America voyages including expanded visits across Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. • Voyages extended into the eastern Mediterranean with new destinations such as Alexandria.
Consumer confidence threatened by tariffs, Irish Ferries owner warns

1 week ago | travelweekly.co.uk | Phil Davies

Sweeping global tariffs imposed by US president Donald Trump risks damaging consumer confidence, the owner of Irish Ferries warned today (Thursday). Irish Continental Group reported a 7.1% drop in car carryings in the period to May 3 as Irish Sea services were hit by the closure of Holyhead port in Wales at the start of the year. In a trading update, the company reported a 7.1% year-on-year rise in group revenue to almost €190 million.
G Adventures charters new ship for Antarctica sailings

1 week ago | travelweekly.co.uk | Phil Davies

G Adventures is chartering a new expedition ship for the upcoming Antarctica sailing season. The vessel, currently named Ocean Adventurer, has been chartered through Danish maritime company SunStone. It will take on the Expedition name in tribute to G Adventures’ much-loved ‘little red ship’ which had been operating for more than 15 years. The new 128-passenger ship will embark on its first G Adventures departure to Antarctica in October operating five itineraries.
Opening up European high-speed rail ‘worth €12bn’ in ticket sales by 2030

1 week ago | travelweekly.co.uk | Phil Davies

Liberalised high-speed rail routes in Europe will lead to projected industry ticket sales worth €12 billion by 2030. The forecast came from digital ticketing firm Trainline, claimed as Europe’s most downloaded rail app with a total active customer base of 27 million. The liberalisation of routes in France, Italy and Spain is expected to provide the catalyst for Trainline to expand in Europe.
Pandaw builds second ship for Vietnam cruises

1 week ago | travelweekly.co.uk | Phil Davies

Pandaw Cruises is to add a new ship to sail in Vietnam. The inaugural sailing of the RV Hanoi Pandaw is scheduled for November 1, 2026. The 16-cabin vessel will be a sister ship to the Angkor Pandaw (pictured), which has been in service for more than a decade. Both vessels will operate a 10-day river expedition through North Vietnam’s Red River and Halong Bay region.
Trump attack on global trading ‘a threat to airline demand’ next winter

1 week ago | travelweekly.co.uk | Phil Davies

Downward demand pressures on airlines could become a reality next winter amid “unprecedented” economic uncertainties after US president Donald Trump unleashed a raft of global tariffs. The warning came from the head of Europe’s airports association as passenger growth levels dropped back throughout the first quarter of the year. ACI Europe reported a fading post-pandemic travel boom in the first three months of 2025.